Tongs.



E. A. STEARMAN.

TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.14, 1914. 1 13% 33%., Patented M01213, 1915. 9 9 Q 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.Wmwmam THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ, wAsHINGmN. n c.

E. A. STEARMAN.

TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14, 1914.

Patented A101. 13, 1915.

m 7 u 6 2 z THE NORRIS PETERS Co, PHOTULITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. c.

EVERETT A. STEARIVIAN, 0F GOODNIGHT, OKLAHOMA.

TONGS.

ll,ll35,332.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1215.

Application filed October 14, 1914. Serial N 0. 866,619.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EVERETT A. STEAK- MAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Goodnight, in the county of Logan and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for digging oysters, clams and the like; and the object of the invention is to provide an easily operated apparatus of this kind having pivoted rake-like jaws, and novel and improved means for operating said jaws, and also to provide a means for automatically effecting the opening of the jaws in the event of the same closing up on a rock, stump or other rigid body.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be pointed out in the detailed description appearing hereinafter, and in order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4.of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the apparatus has four pivotally connected rakeshaped jaws arranged in pairs and designed to be operated simultaneously. Two of the jaws are indicatedatlO, the same being located opposite each other at the front and rear sides of the apparatus. The other two jaws are shown at 11, the same being located opposite each other at the ends of the apparatus. The jaws all point downward and when they are closed the points of the side jaws 10 meet, and the end jaws 11 close up the space between the side jaws at the ends thereof.

The support for the jaws 10 and 11 comprises a horizontal cross-bar 12 having downturned ends 13 carrying transverse bars 14 having downturned ends 15. The tines of the jaws 10 are carried by crossbars 16 having rounded ends 17 which seat loosely in apertures in the transverse bars 14. The tines of the jaws 11 are carried by cross-bars 18 having rounded ends 19 which seat loosely in apertures in the downturned ends 15 of the bars 14. Thus a pivotal support for the jaws is had so that they may swing closed to grip the oysters, etc., and when they are swung open the oysters, etc.,

are released. The jaws 10 are strengthened by transverse brace bars 20 located on opposite side of the tines near the cross-bars 16. Similar brace bars 21 are provided for the jaws 11.

To the cross-bar 12, midway between the ends thereof, are secured spaced standards 22 rising to a suitable height and connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 23. Be-

tween these'standards is mounted a longitudinally slidable rod 24 which passes loosely through alined apertures in the crossbars 12 and 23. Below the cross-bar 12, the rod 24 has an abutment 25 to limit its upward movement, and between said cross-bar and the cross-bar 23, the rod carries a pair of cross-heads 26 made fast on the rod, to move therewith, by set screws 27 or other suitable means. One of these cross-heads is connected at its ends by links 28 to arms 29 secured to the jaws 10. The other crosshead is connected at its ends by links 30 to arms 31 secured to the jaws 11. These links and arms are so arranged that when the rod 24 is pushed downward, to lower the crosshead, the jaws swing open, and when the rod moves in theopposite direction the jaws close. The rod is forced in the last-mentioned direction by a spring 32 coiled around the same between the lower cross-head 26 and the cross-bar 12.

The rod 24 extends some distance above the cross-bar 23, and has at its upper end an eye 33 to which are connected links 34 which latter are connected by a rope 35 to a link 36. A hoisting line 37 is connected to the link 36. The rope connection 35 is provided for a purpose to be hereinafter eX- plained. The upper end of the rod 24, above the cross-bar 28 also carries a cross-head 38, the same being loose on the rod. A. spring 39 is coiled around the rod between the crosshead 38 and a set collar 40 on the rod above said cross-head. Below the cross-head, the

rod carries a set collar 41. The cross-head 38 carries a pivoted dog 42 having a notch 43.

Below the set collar 41 a collar 44 is loose on the shaft, to which collar is pivoted, as indicated at 45, a latch 46 designedto hook beneath the cross-bar 23 for a purpose to be presently made clear. The collar 44 carries a guide 47 for the dog 42. The latch 46 carries a yoke 48 which straddles the rod 24 and the free end of the dog 42, and has an abutment 49 to engage the notch 43. Below the collar 44 the rod carries a set collar. 50, and between these collars a spring 51 is coiled around the rod.

The outer ends of the cross-head 38 are connected by draft rods 52 to the top one of the links 34.

To the link 36 are connected lines 53 which pass down through eyes 54 in the cross-head 38 and eyes 55 and 56 on the standards 22. These lines are carried down to pulleys 57 attached to the'jaws 10 and after passing around said pulleys they are carried upward back to the cross-head 38 andmade fast to the latter.

In operation, the apparatus is lowered into the water by means of a Windlass or other suitable hoisting device mounted on a scow or other vessel, the hoisting line 37 being connected to the Windlass. Before lowering the apparatus the jaws 10 and 11 are opened, by pushing the rod 24 downward until the latch 46 slips under the cross-bar 23. The rod may be operated to open the jaws by pushing the cross-head 38 downward against the set collar 41. The downward movement of the rod compresses the spring 32, and through the links 28 and 30, and thearms 29 and 31 swings the jaws open and they are held open by the latch 46. When the latch is tripped the rod is released, whereupon the spring 32 expands and moves the rod upward to close the jaws.

The apparatus is held suspended by means of the cross-head 38 and the rods 52 from the link 34, and thus its weight causes the cross-head 38 to slip upward on the rod'24 against the'tension of the spring 39 when the apparatus is being lowered into operation. When the cross-head is at the limit of its upward movement, the notch 43 of the dog 42 is close to the abutment 49. Now, when the apparatus reaches the bottom of the river or other body of water and the tension on the hoisting line 37 is relieved, the spring 39 forces the cross-head 38 downward, whereupon the notched part of the dog strikes the abutment 49 andtrips the latch 46 off the cross-bar 23, thereby releasing the rod and allowing the same to be shot upward by the spring 32 to close the jaws l0 and 11. The apparatus is now hoisted, and afterbeing emptied by opening the jaws, it is ready to be lowered for anotherload.

If the line 37 should be hauled in with thejaws 10 and 11 caught on a rock, a stump or other rigid object, the connection 35 will break, whereupon the lines 53 are operated to open the jaws to effect their release.

In'order to prevent the apparatus from being upset when operating in swift running streams, the cross-bars 12 carry legs 58 which stand out some distance from the jaws so as not to interfere with their movement, and to provide a firm support, the legs being designed to rest on the river bottom and thus hold the apparatus in upright position.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, pivoted jaws carried by the support, a rod carrying the support and slidable relative thereto, a connection between the rod and the jaws for opening and closing the same, a latch for locking the rod when the jaws are open, a spring for moving the rod in a direction to close the jaws, and a suspension and hoisting means connected to the rod.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support having feet for holding the same in upright position, pivoted jaws carried by the support, a rod car rying the support and slidable relative thereto, a connection between the rod and the jaws for opening and closing the same, a latch for locking the rod when the jaws are open, a spring for moving the rod in a direction to close the jaws, and a suspension and hoisting means connected to the rod.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, pivoted jaws carried by the support, hoisting means connected to the support, and jaw opening means connected to the hoisting means for opening the jaws when the connection between the support and the hoisting means is broken.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, pivoted jaws carried by the support, hoisting means, a breakable connection between the hoisting means and the support, and jaw opening means connected to the hoisting means for opening the jaws when the connection between the support and the hoisting means is broken.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, pivoted jaws carried by the support, a rod carrying the support, and slidable relative thereto, pivoted links carried by the rod and connected to the jaws for opening and closing the same, a latch for locking the rod when the jaws are open, a spring for moving the rod in a direction to close the jaws, and a suspension and hoisting means connected to the rod.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a support, pivoted jaws carried by the support, a rod carrying the support and slidable relative thereto, a connection between the rod and the jaws for opening and closing the same, a latch for locking the rod when the jaws are open, a spring for moving the rod in a direction to close the jaws, a cross-head slidable on the rod, a spring opposing the upward movement of the cross-head relative to the rod, suspension and hoisting means connected to the cross-head, and means carried by the cross-head. for releasing the latch.

7., An apparatus of the character described, comprising a support, pivoted jaws carried by the support, a rod carrying the support and slidable relative thereto, a connection between the rod and the jaws for opening and closing the same, a latch for locking the rod when the jaws are open, a spring for moving the rod in a direction to suspension and hoisting means connected to the cross-head, a latch-tripping dog carried by the cross-head, and a yoke connected to the latch and having an abutment engage- 15 able by said dog.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT A. STEARMAN.

close the jaws, a cross-head slidable on the Witnesses: rod, a spring opposing the upward move- M. E. FRUIN, ment of the cross-head relative to the rod, C. H. ECKMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

